As the days when humanity’s upward efforts were led by the governments of geopolitical superpowers are left behind, we now see private initiatives turn their gaze skywards more and more, paving the way for a future where rockets bear logos instead of flags.
Now, the new age of space focused initiatives brings along a series of new opportunities for the discerning investor to play a part in building the future.
One place you might overlook is Western Australia, which boasts 60 years of experience in the space industry and still has much to contribute to the sector.
Let’s have a look at some opportunities we can find in WA:
Prime Real Estate
A capability report from 2018, ACIL stated that WA had a series of distinct advantages and unique opportunities in the space sector, with its location being ideal for space situational awareness and greatly beneficial for facilities that contribute to the coverage of space assets on a global level like launch tracking.
The state hosts space infrastructure for both civilian and defense operations, as well as space related facilities and institutions which often operate along with its many university research programs.
One of its core strengths is the industrial capabilities which make the region able to maintain and operate several space-based ground systems, including remote, or even autonomous operations, which often take place in the harshest environments.
Not to mention, of course the 70+ Australian and international companies running space and space-related services in the region.
Remote Access
The State also hosts a series of capabilities in the development and use of space derived applications and provides maximum access to Global Navigational Satellite System (GNSS) constellations. These central roles are but the firm ground on which the space industry in WA has grown.
A sure mark of this progress has been the memorandum of understanding signed between WA and the Australian Space Agency in South Australia for the advancement and growth of the space sector.
Not to mention the launch of the Australian Remote Operations for Space and Earth (AROSE) consortium in 2020, an industry-led, not-for-profit consortium which will position Perth as a global centre for remote operations in space.
Road Trip to Mars
Speaking of which, AROSE is the recipient of a $1.5 million investment from the WA Government and has recently received a $200,000 stimulus to develop a lunar rover for the Australian Government’s Moon to Mars Demonstrator Feasibility Grants program.
The non-for-profit has recently reached a historical milestone with the launch of the Binar-1 CubeSat, a satellite built and designed by students for Curtin University which went airborne on the 28th of August 2021 bound for the International Space Station.
AROSE has also recently launched the Australian Remote Operations Capability (AROC), a project aimed at mapping Australia’s technological capabilities and position the country as a future hub and exporter of remote operation technologies for space.
And, as AROSE has arrangements with the technology branches of several WA universities, there is a steady and diverse inflow of talents coming going into their projects which are sure to warrant a more attentive look by any investor.
What The Future Holds
According to estimations by PwC economic, the remote operation opportunities created by AROSE are going to improve the Australian economy by $196 million on yearly basis, creating no less than 1,540 jobs in the region.
Universities like UWA and Curtin are also leading the charge with cutting edge projects like the space tracking system being developed in partnership with Lockheed Martin, and the development of high-speed and quantum-encrypted free-space optical communications.
Both universities are also collaborating for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) a global initiative involving another 16 countries, which has recently received $64.4 million in investment by the Australian Federal Government.
Funds which are to be directed towards the construction of a new centre in Perth dedicated to analysing the data gathered by the SKA radio telescope and further our understanding of the universe’s very origins.
The Sky is the Limit
It is undeniable that WA holds exciting opportunities for the space industry, from the development of new space-related technologies to the launch of the most varied missions in our higher atmosphere and beyond. WA is shaping the future of the sector.
Anyone seeking to be a part of this future will have no trouble finding initiatives in WA that are worthy of support, be it for pushing the limits of human achievement, or innovating in the space operations that make so many commodities in the groundwork.
The talent, the technology, and most importantly, the will, are all here.
Will you be here too?
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